Public Statements

Voting No on Agriculture Spending Bill

Press Release

Bill would make devastating cuts to programs that feed mothers, children and seniors

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voted against a spending bill for the Department of Agriculture today, saying it contains deep cuts to programs for the most vulnerable Americans.

"This bill has devastating cuts to the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program and a huge cut to a food program that mostly serves low-income seniors. We need to reduce the deficit but instead of doing it on the backs of mothers, children and seniors, why don't we ask big corporations and wealthy taxpayers to pay their fair share?"

The bill cuts $6 billion from the WIC program, which provides food assistance to pregnant and nursing mothers and infants, as well as a 20% cut in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which mostly serves low-income seniors.

"In this economy with so many people struggling to find work, the only way to describe these cuts is "dangerous,'" Pingree said.